³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Concerns raised over the rising number of Covid-19 cases in South Glasgow over the past several days and its links to the more infectious Indian variant of COVID-19 B.1.617.2.

The JCVI highlighted the need to accelerate and promote vaccine uptake for everyone within priority groups 1-9 who have yet to be vaccinated, and bring forward the dose schedule from 12 to 8 weeks in areas where the 02 variant is of the highest threat.

The JCVI’s advice is that an age-based approach is the best way to quickly protect those who haven’t yet had the vaccine.

The 2021-22 local government finance settlement of almost £11.7 billion includes an additional £375.6 million. or 3.5 per cent for day-to-day revenue spending and represents a fair settlement. In addition, the value of the overall COVID-19 support package for councils now totals more than £1.5 billion and the Scottish Government also agreed a package of financial flexibilities for Scotland's councils to provide further assistance in responding to the pandemic.

Glasgow City Council will receive a total funding package of almost £1.5 billion to support local services, which includes an extra £29.8 million to support vital day to day services, equivalent to an increase of 2.2 per cent compared to 2020-21. To date, the council has been allocated an additional £221.7 million to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, through the local government settlement - over and above their regular grant payments.

In addition, Glasgow City Council will receive their fair share of a further £137 million included in the original 2021-22 local government finance settlement which is currently undistributed. The Council will also receive their fair share of the subsequent 2021-22 funding since the announcement of the settlement and any future funding will continue to be discussed and agreed with COSLA.

However, it is the responsibility of individual councils to manage their own budgets and to allocate the financial resources available to them, including on community facilities, on the basis of local needs and priorities. Ultimately, it is for locally elected representatives to make local decisions on how best to deliver services to their local communities.

Decisions on local government budget allocations for future years are subject to the outcome of negotiations with COSLA.

All of our decision making in the approach to responding to Covid-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies , advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Chief Medical Officer. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provides advice on immunisation to all UK Health Departments, including on the efficacy and safety of vaccines.

Current JCVI advice does not cover vaccination in those under 18 years old, so far only 16 and 17 years olds in groups 1 -9 are covered.

Clinical trials are currently underway for vaccination of children and young people.

We will continue to engage with vaccine developers, and the JCVI so that if trials are successful we are ready to vaccinate younger age groups, if that is what the clinical and scientific evidence supports.

We are currently considering options to deliver this scheme which will be informed by pilot projects. Final decisions on how the policy will be implemented will determine the number of bikes required.

The Scottish Government places great importance on public libraries and leisure facilities and believes everyone should have access to these services. The Scottish Government has produced safer workplace guidance for public libraries and sport and leisure facilities to allow these services to be restored safely, however as independent corporate bodies it is for local authorities to decide when and what will be offered, and it is for the locally elected representatives to make these decisions.

Scotland’s councils have been allocated an additional £1.5 billion in direct support through the local government finance settlement and councils have also been granted additional financial flexibilities to address the financial pressures caused by COVID-19.

Furthermore, the 2021-22 Local Government Settlement of almost £11.7 billion provides a cash increase in local government day to day spending for local revenue services of £375.6 million or 3.5 per cent.

We are currently considering options to deliver this scheme. Final decisions on implementation of the policy will determine funding allocations.

The Scottish Government will continue to work in partnership with COSLA and Local Authorities to ensure our communities receive the support and services that they expect and deserve. It is, however, the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including for the range of community services they deliver, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of local and national priorities.

In 2021-22, Glasgow City Council will receive a total funding package of almost
‎ £1.5 billion to support local services, which includes an extra £29.8 million to support vital day to day services, equivalent to an increase of 2.2 per cent compared to 2020-21. To date, the council has been allocated an additional £221.7 million to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, through the local government settlement - over and above their regular grant payments.

In addition, Glasgow City Council will receive their fair share of a further £137 million included in the original 2021-22 local government finance settlement which is currently undistributed. The Council will also receive their fair share of the subsequent 2021-22 funding that has been discussed and agreed with COSLA since the announcement of the settlement.

Employment Support Allowance (ESA) is a UK wide benefit reserved to the UK Government. Guidance from the Department for Work and Pensions requires that GPs provide fit notes, as evidence of the advice the ESA applicant has been given about their fitness for work, and these are provided free of charge. These requirements do not apply where further non-mandatory evidence is sought to support a claim. The Scottish Government has not made any representations to the UK Government on this specific matter.

We estimate that an additional 2,400 pupils across 23 primary schools within the Airdrie and Shotts constituency will be entitled to receive a free school lunch after the rollout of universal free school meals to include all primary school children is completed. In addition, all 5,300 children attending these primary schools will be entitled to receive a free school breakfast.

The Scottish Government recognises that free school meals are a vital support to thousands of children and young people across the country - ensuring that children are fed and ready to engage in learning. They are also a valued support for family budgets, providing a saving of approximately £400 per year per child. We are providing an additional £49.75 million in 2021-22 to support the expansion of universal free school meals to primary 4 and primary 5 children, and for targeted free school meal support during all school holidays to all primary and secondary children who are eligible.

We are currently considering options to deliver this policy. No decision has been made on suppliers of bikes.